86 The Formative Power in Nature. [February, 
struCtive of their supposition. The vehemence of each, in 
the calmness of reflection, appears equally absurd ; that of 
the theologian in supposing that his creed comprises within 
itself the all of the creative problem, and of the materialist 
that in his science he has the ultimate faCts of knowledge ; 
yet with the denial he inconsistently admits that there is a 
first cause, at the same time denying to it personality or 
authority, under the plea that it is indefinable, unknowable 
and unthinkable. Where is there an ultimate origin which 
is not so ? The scientific axiom that the unknown should 
be interpreted by the known should at the least teach them 
that there may be powers in the universe of which they 
know nothing. 
A narrow bigotry — and this is as true of science as of 
theology — can serve no purpose but that of an acrimonious 
discussion: it is one-sided, and therefore necessarily it is un- 
truthful. Religious hierarchies are built upon the ignorance 
of their supporters, and have gained a lengthened existence 
through a systematic despotism, by which they suppressed 
all intellectual advances through which alone the tone of 
the human race could be elevated. The Romish Church 
throughout its career has manifested a persistent determi- 
nation to suppress all philosophical theories subversive of 
the Genesis “ revelation.” It is to be hoped that the edu- 
cation of the masses will lead to the erosion of dogmatic 
assumptions, and to a right knowledge of religious and of 
scientific tenets ; it will be then possible to accept Goethe’s 
magnificent idea, and all men will discern God in Nature and 
thereby be incited to a reverence for the formative power. 
The propagandists of materialistic dogmas are doing that 
which the Church has done through the bygone ages, although 
in an opposite direction ; this course can but lead to the subver- 
sion of the tenets they would promulgate. The admission 
of a cause, necessarily the antecedent of all we know or can 
conceive, appears to be placing the monists upon the horns 
of a dilemma. 
The mechanical theory of the universe may be well up- 
held (it being the only reasonable Kosmic theory the mind 
of man can conceive) : it is quite consistent at the same time 
to admit that there is a directing intelligence, and the 
manifestation of a purpose in the formative processes of 
nature linked with a power commensurate with phenomenal 
results and their perpetuation. Herein may be found the 
keystone of the arch on which an edifice may be raised, the 
topmost pinnacle of which would be crowned by the entity of 
God. 
